The Risk of Infidelity Index

The Grove Press trade paperback edition of The Risk of Infidelity Index came out a few weeks ago. You can still marked down copies of the hardback editions on Barnes & Noble. The heavily discounted copies ($4.98) of Risk were ranked 833 on Barnes & Nobel website on 3rd February. One of the good things to happen to a book that has been released in paperback is there is a second chance for reviews in the few remaining review columns in major American newspapers.

The San Francisco Chronicle on February1, 2009 observed, “Think Dashiell Hammett in Bangkok. A hard-boiled, street-smart, often hilarious pursuit of a double murderer.”

The New York Times on February 1, 2009 said, “This flashy private-eye mystery introduces American readers to Vincent Calvino, who works in Bangkok for expat wives who want proof of their husbands’ infidelity. Then he investigates the murder of a man who tried to expose a case of drug piracy that could bring down the government.”

Do reviews in the print media make a difference? The answer is a definite yes. Such reviews make a substantial difference in sales. The Amazon ranking shot up to 3,000 from about 300,000 before the New York Times recommendation appeared.

Having a book noticed should come as no surprise as making an impact on sales.. Readers who missed the hardback edition the first time around become aware of the book for a start. The trade paperback edition is cheaper. Words of praise about a book still provide readers with confidence to take their own risk in buying a book by an author they don’t know.

Readers still trust that the books recommended in newspapers like The San Francisco Chronicle and The New York Times will deliver a great read.